I would like to believe but just can't

Below is a portion of an email I received after a Question Group.

I think it would be a great comfort to believe. My problem is that I am just not convinced. It still seems like it could be a fable … a set of stories that people have told themselves to feel safe, protected … to give their lives meaning. All religions feel that way to me right now. It just seems so very human (and therefore, understandable, but not necessarily correct) to create the idea of an all-powerful being who is watching over us. I told someone recently that I would describe myself as an agnostic with atheistic, Christian, and Buddhist leanings. Sounds like I’m trying to be clever, but that is really where I am right now!

That is why I came to listen to your group. That is why I am reading books by people who did not believe, and then became believers. I want to know how they did it. That is why I read “The Language of God” by Francis Collins. But he didn’t convince me. At some point, it was about faith, which to me means, we can’t quite take you the rest of the way with logic or proof, so we’re going to ask you to leap. Make sense?

First of all, thanks for this email and "yes" you make sense:) This expresses well what a lot of people struggle with as they try to understand what life with God is about. There can be moments on your journey that make it seem like "all the religions are the same"and hence, like you said, thoroughly manmade. And it makes senses that total doubt would follow based on this conclusion. However, as you think about Christianity in particular I would encourage you to consider two things: first, consider your own spiritual quest. Why is it that you are even asking these questions, reading books like "Language of God"? What is it that compelled you to come to Question Group? You mentioned that you are interested in learning about people who came to believe later in life and I would like for you to read this. It is written by a A N Wilson - famous atheist and running buddy Richard Dawkins - who came to realize, about this time last year in fact, that atheism could not explain the mystery of life; it could not explain the mystical reality of his own soul and his soul's quest to meet its creator. Give it a read and let me know what you think.

Second, consider Jesus. He is unlike other religious leaders in multiple ways. One is that he encourages interested onlookers to take a close look at his life and 'count the cost' of what it would mean to follow him. His life is rooted in history (which separates him from fables) and can be studied. In fact, this Wednesday at Question Group we will look at all the non-Christian evidence of Jesus and his resurrection. He is also different because he does not require us to have "great" faith - rather he shows himself to be totally faithful (often in areas where we are not faithful). Jesus says that the smallest amount of faith in a strong object of faith (himself) is what really counts as opposed to having "great" faith in something that will ultimately let you down. Does this make sense?

Curious to see what comments you guys have out there...

Question Group Last Night ...

Just wanted to say thanks to all of you who showed up last night at the Question Group and thanks to Craig for presenting - it was a great time indeed! It was exciting to see Dazbog packed out and many of your questions after Craig's talk were excellent. Hope to see you all there next Wednesday! Fyi, I talked to the Dazbog manager and he said the Question Group gave him the best Wednesday business he has ever had - very cool.

Also, check Kara Pearson's blog to see pics of last night's Question Group in action.

Why would God create people just to send them to hell? Part Two

Some very good discussion from Clint and Michelle regarding this question in the 'comments' of the post below: certainly worth reading if you haven't read their comments yet.

Clint explains quite well the notion of hell in light of Jesus' teaching of kingdom and both Clint and Michelle touch on the notion of election/free will which I want to get into a bit here.

The problem of election in relation to this question derives mostly from Romans 9, as noted by Michelle below. Here are some of the highlights:

"though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of thim who calls— she was told, 'The older will serve the younger.' As it is written, 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.'...So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.' So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills."

Ok, a few things to note here about the context of this passage: It was written to mostly Gentile Christians in Rome who were confused as to why they were enjoying the benefits of the Jewish God while many Jews in Rome had rejected Jesus as Messiah - conflict between these two groups in Rome emerged as a result. So one reason why Paul writes to the Gentile Christian is to create humility and fear in the hearts of Christians which is why he concludes in 11:20 "So do not become proud, but fear."

A primary reason why Paul uses election language in this passage is to eliminate any notion of pride in the hearts of Christians - they are Christians not because they were smart enough to figure it out when many others were not, rather they were Christians because of God's mercy. In this way we see that Paul is not showing the arbitrary nature by which God sends some to hell and others not but rather is highlighting the basis upon which someone becomes a child of God: God's grace and mercy.

But what do we do with God's "hardening": isn't that proof that "God creates people just to sent them to hell?" Well, take a closer look at the passage and ask the question who benefited from God hardening Pharaoh's heart? Answer: all the nations of the earth. Likewise if you continue reading this passage Paul will explain that God has also "hardened" Israel's heart; again, ask yourself the question who benefits from God hardening Israel' heart? Answer: all the nations of the earth (e.g. Gentiles). Moreover, unlike Pharaoh, Israel's hardening is only "partial" (11:25 ) which is why Paul ends this section with "For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all."

So there is a forward propulsion to "election" and "hardening" that is counterintuitive: yes, God hardens hearts but he does so for the benefit of the many.

Why would God create people just to send them to hell?

Ok, so I am glad to see this discussion offering up some softball questions :)

Before I get into the question asked above, I wanted to preview some questions that I will post in the days to come:

I would like to believe but I just can't see the difference between Christianity and any other fairy tale...

How can it be just for God to judge us on the actions of one person, Adam?

Can I be a Christian without have a preacher yell at me - what is the purpose of preaching?

Can science play a part in proving a religion wrong?

Great questions - thanks for sending them in....... just a reminder that if you are reading this and you have a question please email me dsmorlan@gmail.com and we will post it and discuss....

Ok, back to the title question above: serious thinkers have grabbled with this issue for thousands of years; indeed, this question lays at the heart of what it means to live life in light of the reality of the Divine. That is, if there is a God who is sovereign (e.g. ultimately in control of everything that happens) how does that relate to/impact human responsibility (e.g. that we can be rightly held accountable for our actions)? So the question 'Why would God create people just to send them to hell?' leans heavily on the divine sovereignty aspect without really accounting for the human responsibility aspect of this equation.

A great example of the divine sovereignty/human responsibility dynamic is in Acts 2:23 'this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men'. On the one hand, Jesus' crucifixion was no accident at all as it happened according to God's plan. On the other hand, the individuals who perpetrated this crime where held accountable by Peter's accusation 'you crucified and killed....'

There is more to get into with this question (e.g. the notion of judgement/hell and Paul's discussion of election in Romans 9) but I will stop here and see what you all have to say...

Do I need to know what it 'looks like' to follow Jesus?

I've had a number of great questions roll in the past couple of days – this going to be fun! – but we will start with an interesting question emailed to me late last night:

Do we need to answer the question: What does it look like to be a Christian?! If so, why? I believe that following God or Christ is an unpredictable story...Therefore, I don't see the point in trying to reconcile what it looks like to follow Christ or be a Christian. It will look like whatever God deems necessary, which can be ugly, scary, wild or even immoral by some standards. Do we need to have an answer to the question What does it look like to follow Christ? If so...why?

I think there are at least three things to keep in mind here: first, there is a real since in which following Jesus looks different for different people because people come to him from such diverse backgrounds. So when Jesus says ‘follow me’ to the taxcollector, his journey and the struggles that will be at war against him in his journey will look and feel different than someone else.

Second, there is also an aspect in which following Jesus will look/feel the same for everyone. Jesus confronts all of us – to pick up our cross and follow him, to deny ourselves, to be first we must be last, if we want life we must give up our life – and says following him means that he and his desires are more important (and better for us!) than our own.

Third, I would say it is important to know what it ‘looks like’ to be a Christian especially for someone who is not a Christian but might be considering becoming a Christian. While there is some mystery at play, Jesus encourages interested seekers, nevertheless, to ‘kick the tires’ and ‘look under the hood’ of Christianity. In this way, knowing what it will look like to be a Christian is important as someone ‘counts the cost’ of following Christ.

Any thoughts?

Welcome to the Question Group

The Question Group is a conversational forum that has met in various locations in Denver for the past four years to discuss hard questions about God, Jesus, the Bible and Christianity. It is an inclusive group that assumes we don’t have it all figured out. The purpose of the group is to help you figure out for yourself what it is you do believe about God and why. Everyone, regardless of one’s beliefs, is welcome to join in the conversation. So if there is something about Christianity that is bothering you, let me know what it is by emailing me. We all have questions - together we can find some answers.

The group is driven by the following values: 



Inclusiveness – The Question Group is open to anyone, regardless of their beliefs



Honesty – The group will welcome honest, even raw, questions and thoughts about God, Jesus, spirituality and the Bible. It will only be as good as the thoughts and questions expressed, and these will only be helpful if we have the freedom to be honest about them. 



Pursuit of Truth – Finally, the group will assume that truth exists and we can know it, even if imperfectly. Though every viewpoint will be respected and allowed a voice, you'll be encouraged to weigh their merits and pursue truth. This might even require some courage and energy to move beyond inherited assumptions.